Hutchison: Let voters have say on taxes; won’t take union $

Susan Hutchison has been criticized for avoiding most campaign forums and press requests for interviews as she runs for King County executive.

But on Wednesday Hutchison, who polls show is leading the race, answered more than a dozen questions from the press following her statement in front of Benaroya Hall about the need to improve county oversight.

Here are some highlights of what the former KIRO-TV news broadcaster had to say:

Taxes: King County Executive Kurt Triplett will likely put forward a proposal to ask voters to approve a tenth of a cent sales tax increase to help fund human services in light of a looming $50 million county budget deficit. When asked about tax increases Hutchison said she was generally opposed, however she said she was OK with presenting a levy to voters to see if they’d support tax increases. “I support that,” she said.

Campaign contributions: Hutchison said she wouldn’t take money from labor unions because as executive she would have to negotiate contracts with them. When asked whether she’d take money from corporations that do business with the county she said she would, because county department heads handle those negotiations. She also said there was sufficient transparency and oversight surrounding contract between businesses and the county.

Government priorities: Hutchison said her number one priority was public safety, which accounts for the bulk of the county budget. As for looming big cuts to human services, she said “it breaks your heart,” but said public safety programs must be maintained.

Government efficiency: She reiterated her calls to streamline government. She said she’d implement a county hiring freeze – “they’ve got to get by with what they’ve got” – and would cut her executive staff, saying she’d gladly trade executive staffers for sheriff’s deputies.

Health care: County general fund spending on public health has more than doubled since 2004 to $28 million this year. One reason is the increasing costs of health care. When asked if she supported comprehensive changes to the nation’s health care system that are being discussed in Washington, D.C., she demurred, saying she’d prefer to talk about local issues.

Executive security: Triplett was challenged by Sheriff Sue Rahr to give up $200,000-a-year security detail, which includes a sheriff’s detective who drives him to and from work and meetings. Two detectives are assigned to the unit. Hutchison was asked whether she would forgo the security team as executive. Hutchison said she would look at scaling it back but wouldn’t eliminate it entirely, though she joked that she’d been driving herself places for a long time.

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